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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2018-0802 Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability

Microsoft Office contains a memory corruption vulnerability due to the way objects are handled in memory. Successful exploitation allows for remote code execution in the context of the current user. This vulnerability is known to be chained with CVE-2018-0798.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 3 Nov 2021.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 7.8, scored by CISA).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,829 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

Equation Editor in Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Office 2013, and Microsoft Office 2016 allow a remote code execution vulnerability due to the way objects are handled in memory, aka "Microsoft Office Memory Corruption Vulnerability". This CVE is unique from CVE-2018-0797 and CVE-2018-0812.

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
Microsoft Corporation Equation EditorMicrosoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Office 2013, and Microsoft Office 2016

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Microsoft Office. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 3 May 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2018-0802
  3. CVE record: CVE-2018-0802
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-0802
  6. github.com/rxwx/CVE-2018-0802
  7. securitytracker.com/id/1040153
  8. 0patch.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-bug-that-killed-equation-editor-how.html
  9. securityfocus.com/bid/102347
  10. github.com/zldww2011/CVE-2018-0802_POC
  11. research.checkpoint.com/another-office-equation-rce-vulnerability/